Discovery and BBC End Partnership

The split is billed as an amicable divorce by both parties as the two pledge to work with other partners while continuing to work with one another on select projects.

LONDON – The long-standing partnership between Discovery and the BBC is coming to an end "by mutual agreement," both parties said on Wednesday.

The partnership has spawned a slew of widely acclaimed global programming events such as Life, FrozenPlanet, BluePlanet and Wonders of the Solar System.

Although the formal relationship is coming to an end, the BBC and Discovery "will continue to work together on a number of forthcoming projects" including Hidden Kingdom, Survival and Howto Build a Planet.

Discovery evp, production & development, Landmark series and specials Andrew Jackson said: "As Discovery's global audiences continue to flourish, they demand the very best science and natural history programming. This is taking us in exciting, new directions, creating these essential shows for numerous cutting edge platforms. We look forward to working with the many talented production companies around the world, including the BBC, with whom we have enjoyed a long and successful relationship."

BBC commercial director Bal Samra said: "The BBC and Discovery have enjoyed a long-standing and successful relationship, and although this phase of our partnership is now coming to an end, we look forward to working together on a number of projects in the future. Science and Natural History programs have always been a core part of the BBC’s DNA, and we have ambitious plans for the future with an exciting range of new content in the pipeline. International demand for our content has never been higher, and we continue to enjoy a collaborative and fruitful relationship with a wide range of co-producers."